‘My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York’ was neither what I expected nor an item to be dismissed lightly. Adele Linley and Drew Dawnson seem to be polar opposites, but are drawn together from the beginning. Adele and Drew form an unlikely friendship before Adele makes a decision that may cost them both everything. Ms. Barrett expertly handles the field as characters grow and journeys converge. Her development of Adele leaves a much more noble character than we found at the beginning and adds an extra layer of believability to their story. While ‘My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York’ is not a book I shall return to again and again, it is one I recommend for a pleasant afternoon escape.

My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York
Adele's Journey
by Amanda Barratt
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Barbour Books
Christian , General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date 01 Jan 2018
I am reviewing a copy of My Heart Belongs In Niagara Falls, New York:

Adele Linley is the daughter of an English Aristocrat who in 1870 is on Summer Vacation visiting her American Cousins. In reality though this daughter of an English Aristocrat is also there to find a husband.

Drew Dawson grew up in an overcrowded Orphanage and is determined to make a name for himself. He will take any honest job he can to provide for his sister even if it means Crossing Niagara by a tightrope.

While sightseeing in Niagara Falls, Adele meets several eligible men, incredibly wealthy and arrogant Franklin Conway feels an immediate attraction. But Adele wants to Marty for Love. Adele meets the Mysterious Drew in a garden and finds herself falling for this man, who is not what she is looking for, but her feelings for him our real.

Will they choose love or will they follow the paths they had mapped out for themselves?

Will they find their happily ever after?

Find out in My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York.

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

4.5 stars

Amanda Barratt’s debut novel is a sweet romance as well as being a powerful story of trusting God – and, what happens when we take matters into our own hands instead of waiting on Him.

I can totally relate to Adele Linley & her need to fix what’s wrong and be in the one in charge. In fact, I think most woman can appreciate that aspect of Adele’s character, though perhaps (hopefully) not to the extremes that she takes it. She is sincere and her heart is good; it’s just the execution of her plans that gets her (and others) into trouble. Part of this stems from her belief that God is uncaring and disengaged and, when viewed from that foggy lens, no wonder she thinks it’s all up to her. Misguided though she may be, Adele is a genuinely likable heroine with some tough lessons to learn.

And then there’s Drew, who is swoony and heroic…. and also has some tough lessons to learn. His sacrificial love for his sister brought tears to my eyes more than once, and his faith in Jesus warmed my heart as it rubbed off on Adele. Did he make all the right choices? Nope. And I love that. Because those of us who love Jesus still aren’t perfect, and we so often forget that we don’t have to do this life on our own. While Adele reflects the mindset of people we might encounter in the everyday, Drew is a realistic reflection of our own hearts and actions.

Now, I have to give both Adele and Drew some credit here: They don’t sit idly by and wait for someone else to solve their problems. They jump in with both feet and do what needs doing, no matter the cost to themselves. And while this is certainly admirable, they both miss out at first on the blessing of letting God take over – of letting His far-and-above dreams for us play out in His timing. As the consequences for their actions play out on the page, the love story that God – and the author – weaves in their life is tender and uplifting.

Bottom Line: My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York by Amanda Barratt is touching and romantic, and it depicts an intriguing time in the history of the Falls. Additionally, the juxtaposition of poverty and wealth – both materially and emotionally – is a very compelling contrast, one that Barratt writes beautifully. Adele and Drew are layered and intriguing, separately as well as together, and their story is one that will hit you in all the feels. Death-defying acts, sacrificial love, gentle romance and well-researched history… This is a great debut, and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I’ve enjoyed many of the “My Heart Belongs” books. I was disappointed in this book. I’ve been to Niagara Falls many times and really looked forward to seeing what would happen in this beautiful area. I felt the plot moved along very slowly and did not do the area justice at all.

When Adele comes to America and stays with her relatives, it appears to everyone that she is here to vacation and “hob nob” with the upper-class of Buffalo, NY (Niagara Falls, NY area). In reality, she has come to try to find a “rich American” to marry that would be able to supply her with money to help her mother in England. They had been an “upper crust” family until her father passed away and her brother had partaken in many activities that had used up the family money.

She does meet many men here, both rich and poor. Drew Dawson is one of those poor men, who, along with his sister, were raised as orphans. He attempts to make money to help his invalid sister, and provide a life for them by walking a tightrope over The Falls. There is a lot of interaction between Adele, the rich men, and Drew. Things were not always as they appeared to be.

As the story progressed, I felt it moved so slowly that I really didn’t want to finish reading it, but did continue. I finally enjoyed the last few chapters when action seemed to move along quicker and finally caught my interest. I probably would not recommend this book to others, as I was very disappointed with it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

My Heart Belongs In Niagara Falls, New York a story of rescue (where she, Adele had to find someone who would rescue her and her family who are in a financial fix.) Restoration (Drew doesn't have much money and he needs it to restore his invalid sister.) Daring (you see Drew is a tightrope Walker and guess what he is daring to cross.) Uniqueness (how Adele and Drew met.) And most of all they trust in the LORD, and let HIM leave their lives.

I love the authors description of this book on her Facebook page, I think it perfectly summarizes this story! It says “Love walks a tightrope between wealth and poverty at Niagara Falls”; and that’s what it takes to weave two lives together.

Adele Linley can’t and won’t understand anyone who deliberately risks their lives just for a thrill, like her father did and lost his life. Drew Dawson happens to be that kind of man, but he doesn’t do it for the adrenaline rush. He walks the tightrope across Niagara Falls for the money he can provide for his sister confined to a wheelchair. Both seek wealth for different reasons and it causes many clashes between the two! One relies on God for his provision while the other relies on her own strength to make it. God has a plan for both of them and it plays out in this story in many ways!

This story grabbed me from the beginning and by the end I was quite satisfied! It’s not what I call a fluffy (romantic) read, it has all the depth I love and the characters were well developed. I love each one for various reasons, even one I didn’t like, but he was the villain after all! Adele struggles with many things in her life and watching her made me value the Lord in my own life. That is to say, I don’t see how people make it in life without His strength and guidance! There was a time when I didn’t follow Him and I made a mess of it. For me today, even in the mess, He’s there and I have His peace that passes all understanding. Something Adele learned and I related to her so much through this. Really opened my eyes to how much God has done for me, I love those reminders in fiction! It also made me want to visit Niagara Falls one day. Just from the author’s descriptions, I could picture not only its majesty, but also its danger! A really great story that I recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction, characters that become real in your mind, vivid descriptions of a National tourist site and reminders of how God plays a role in each of our lives. Amanda Barratt hit it out of the ballpark for me with this one!

Favorite line from page 216: (Drew speaking) ” Why must there always be sorrow and poverty and heartache? I don’t know, Lord. But I’ll do all I can to trust You. I guess trust is really a choice, like Reverend Darfield says. It’s not always easy, but it’s the path we have to take, regardless of how difficult.”

“My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York” by Amanda Barratt is another novel in the My Heart Belongs In series. Although I enjoyed reading this novel, it was not on my list of favorites. The story of Adele Linley coming to America to find a rich husband to secure her family’s estate in England just didn’t ring true to me.

Niagara Falls was always a place where daredevils could put themselves in danger in many ways just to make a buck. I was not sympathetic to Drew Dawson, a daredevil who falls in love with Adele. First of all, he is not rich husband material, although he does have compassion and strength to do what he does to try to make enough money for his sister to have a operation which will help her walk again.

I’m sorry, but I could not get into this novel and could not be swayed by the characters themselves. Perhaps another reader would be more accepting.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele’s Journey is an enjoyable historical from the My Heart Belongs Series. It’s fun to open a book and visit another time (1800s), another way of life.

Adele has quite a culture shock when she leaves England for New York. She is on a quest to find a rich husband, in hopes of saving her childhood home.

Drew is a loving, handsome, yet risky man, willing to do whatever it takes to help his sister Hope. His background and money situation is opposite of what Adele is looking for.

Having visited Niagara Falls, I could easily place myself in the setting of this story. And Ms. Barratt portrayed the 1800s so vibrantly; the story took me to earlier days. I enjoyed sinking into the era and watching Adele’s story unfold.

Another quick read from this entertaining and meaningful series, with great pacing, a spiritual thread, and a satisfying end.

Cover: Like
Title: Like
Pages: 256
Series: My Heart Belongs Series #7
Publisher: Barbour
First Line: As the coachman loaded her trunk onto the carriage, nausea churned in Adele’s stomach.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour and NetGalley.

A great debut novel from Amanda Barratt!
I loved the hero Drew Dawson. A good, honest, hardworking man. He loves his sister and will do anything to take care of her, even becoming a gentleman daredevil. I grew to love Adele but she gave me fits with the decisions she made. She learns the hard way that sometimes stiff consequences are the result of those decisions.
The villain is an incredibly rude, two-faced, slimy man. He is very well written as are all the characters in this book.
Filled with twists, turns and an unpredictable outcome, I highly recommend My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls.

" 'A man would have to be an idiot to do something like that again without it being a sure thing.'

It only took a few minutes, more bills coming from Conway's pocketbook and ending up in Drew's hands, some preliminary conversation, for Drew to become exactly that.

An idiot."

"My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele's Journey" (2018, Barbour) by Amanda Barratt, is a Christian historical romance mostly set in 1870 Niagara Falls, New York. This book is seventh in the "My Heart Belongs" series, in which the stories are linked thematically, not by any shared characters or plot. Thus each book is a standalone story. I chose this book as my NetGalley selection for December 2017 because I visit Niagara Falls annually, albeit on the Canadian side, and thought it would be fun to read a book set in a place I'm pretty familiar with. It didn't hurt that I previously enjoyed "My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains" and "My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island" by other authors in this series.

I think it's worth noting that this is Ms. Barratt's first published full-length novel, though she has published novella-length stories in several of Barbour's popular collections to date. Congratulations to her for that!

Rating: 4 stars

The heroine: Adele Linley, from Derbyshire, England, is trying to rescue her family's impoverished estate and finances by looking for a wealthy suitor in New York.

The hero: Former street kid Drew Dawson is a funambulist (tightrope walker) undertaking the daring stunt of crossing Niagara Falls. His sister is an invalid, and they are trying to make ends (just barely) meet. Drew is also trying to save up for a doctor to help his sister regain her mobility, but is making almost no headway.

The daredevils of Niagara Falls

When my family visits Niagara Falls in Canada each year, I am always fascinated by a small gallery of pictures in one of the hotels which feature some of the historical daredevils of the Falls.

Goodness. I have absolutely no understanding of such behavior. But it's fascinating. It may surprise some to learn that more than one of the daredevils was a woman! If interested, a search online will reveal the identities of the daredevils, what they did, and the aftermath of their stunts.



Funambulist Charles Blondin, who was referenced in Ms. Barratt's book several times, crossed the Falls on tightrope several times, always varying his act. My jaw dropped several times at an online article I read about his feats. Wow.

Christian elements:

*I'm always happy to see a Christian author dedicate a book to Jesus/God, which gives credit where it is due right off the bat!

*"Did the God who created such a wondrous sight actually care twopence about the problems of one simple girl like herself? Somehow, Adele doubted it." Drew has the stronger faith in the story.

Is it clean/chaste? Yes. There is a mention of a bar that has ladies of the night in it. The reader meets the head lady.

What I liked:

*My favorite character may have been Delany, the butler with the Texan drawl. He was just wonderful! I was pretty curious about him.

*The first meeting between Drew and Adele was unique and atypical! In fact, several characteristics and events of this story were definitely unconventional for a romance novel, which is fun. I made several predictions which turned out to be untrue.

What I didn’t like:

*I didn't really enjoy some poor choices on the part of both the hero and the heroine - particularly the heroine. They felt potentially realistic, but it made me unhappy. I know I'm not one for an angsty read and many people are. However, when I am reading a romance, I want to love the hero and heroine.

*Ironically (in view of my tastes), with the realism of the book, I really think there should have been more despair. There certainly was some angst to go with the grit in this story, but it felt too light.

*For those in the anti-love-triangle camp, there is one in this story. However, it's not what I consider a true love triangle, so it didn't bother me as much as it would have otherwise.

***********

The bottom line: This Christian romance with flawed characters is definitely not a piece of fluff. It's a well-written tale with the ambiance of Niagara Falls. I recommend this book to fans of historical Christian fiction with some grit. It made me think of Nancy Moser's "The Pattern Artist." I look forward to reading another novella by this author, and plan to read "The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection." I have to admit to being a bit wary of reading another full-length novel by Ms. Barratt because I like a fluffier read.

I received this book for free from NetGalley and the publisher, and am offering my unbiased opinion.

A glimpse into a time long past that is filled with intrigue and romance.
The beautiful heroine Adele seeks a wealthy man to marry as she takes a voyage overseas from London to New York. Her faith is foundering as much as her bank account and she fervently hopes to able to save her family from ruin as a result of this trip. While in New York she encounters an impoverished, yet kind tightrope walker and a wealthy, dapper man .Both capture her attention for completely opposite reasons. Through a series of tumultuous events, Adele changes the direction of her thoughts and gains a stronger faith in the process. Once she opens her heart she soon finds love with the perfect man.
Author Amanda Barratt pens a beautiful novel that transports you back into time. It is a clean read and one which I also found to be a quick read. The strong story line and cast of characters are both captivating and enchanting.

Life and choices made are always interesting when you start to see the consequences unravel. Not always will those consequences be hard or bad, but can be very rewarding and good. As a reader, we get to see a much bigger picture of those consequences than a character does. Those moments when we cringe (or at least I do) when a character makes a choice and we just know that what's coming is not going to be good. We can see it coming a mile away and want to yell out to them and warn them but it won't do any good, so we stay silent (well sometimes I yell at my books and the characters *shrugs shoulders and blushes*).

The characters are introduced, the stage is set, the initial problem disclosed and everything is set in motion. Enter new problems, choices, feelings and emotions, consequences, and love. The reader sees it all coming and gets to enjoy watching it all unfold with the twists and turns and unexpected fixes and conclusions.

Adele must leave England and come to America to find a wealthy suitor. One whom she can marry and who will hopefully save her familial estate in England with his wealth. It all sounds so simple and easy and yet she doesn't account into the equation her feelings, her heart. As she meets men and becomes acquainted with them she learns that her heart must be listened to. Yet to do so would mean to leave all her dreams behind. What should she choose? Which direction should she turn? Whom should she trust?

Drew? Franklin? Her aunt and uncle? Her drunk and gambling brother? All people she should love but many who have let her down. She wants to trust and love.

I enjoyed the beginning and the staging of the characters. Their introduction, their faults, their virtues, all mixed together. I will say that I skimmed through several chapters after all our characters had been introduced. I'm not sure if it was that I was extremely exhausted and just wanted to get to the angst of the problem and start seeing the resolution or if I was bored. If I had to guess, I would say it was the exhaustion. I really have been looking forward to reading this book and when I tried to read it, I'd find myself falling asleep from way too much happening in life. So I jumped ahead to where the angst really was built up in hopes that staying awake to enjoy the book would win out over exhaustion. It did.

I didn't expect some of the twists and turns from the middle of the book on. I was shocked and felt the emotions of Adele as she too was shocked and struggling with trying to accept the consequences of her choices. Her love and sacrifice as she learned that she can't control everything but must make amends of the wrongs she caused were well written. The love story was very sweet. I loved many of the conversations between Adele and her love interest near the end. And the ending! It was great! I didn't see that coming! I thought for sure she would be stuck--ok very vague there and on purpose because I don't want to spoil it for you.

This was a great addition to the My Heart Belongs series. Each one a stand alone that can be enjoyed in any order, or pick and choose which one appeals to you the most. All of them are Christian Fiction and have talk about God and trusting Him and turning our lives over to Him.

Content: Clean. Some mild religious talk but nothing preachy.

I received a copy from the publisher, Barbour publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Surprises abound in this New York State read, and really didn’t see a lot that happened coming, yes, I was really blind-sided.

We see both sides of the spectrum here, from the ultra-rich to the ultra-poor, and a bit in between, and we wear the shoes of both sides.

Our heroine is a young lady bent on saving her families estate in England by finding a rich American husband. The author gives us a deep look into her and her family. While she really surprised me by her acts, I wasn’t sure at times if I really liked her.

Our male counterpart has a big heart for God and family, but really risks his life in order to make money. His heart is in the right place, but really didn’t think is head was on straight, but he put his faith first, and made me love him.

This one is a very different read, and I urge you to keep reading, it gets better and better.

I received this book through Net Galley and Barbour Publishing and was not required to give a positive review

Adele travel from England to Niagara Falls NY to find a rich husband who will help her family out of their debt. She meets Drew who becomes a good friend or is it more? She also meets Mr.. Conway who is rich and interested but will she learn that love is more important than money?
I have read all of the books in this series and this is my least favorite. Adele is very manipulative and I did not care for her at all. she never seems to learn from her mistakes but as we know everyone is redeemable and God can use all for good. Drew and his sister Hope are very likeable and realistic characters. I also felt the story moved a bit slow in the middle but it has a great ending and the intrigue picks up in the final chapters earning this book a 4 of 5 stars.

TThis is a sweet story of two individuals, both trying to do all they can to preserve and help their individual family situations. Both having experienced hard times, they set out to improve as they think best. There are some very breathtaking events. But I will let you discover this!

This book is part of a 50 state series of books, this one taking place in New York. Although part of a historical series, each book seems to be an individual book with it's own story.

The book is very enjoyable and I would recommend it highly. A beautiful scenario written around the amazing Falls and the events there keep you reading till the end. It's a story of family, love and faith.

I was given an E-book copy from NetGalley for my review. All thoughts are my own.he review I posted was for My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate. I made a mistake. I will post this soon.

My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls is a well written book. A wonderful story of faith, family, hope, courage and love. The characters are very well developed. You truly feel like you know them. I got drawn into this book and did not want it to end although I rarely read historical romance. It keeps you on the edge of your seat; definitely a page turner. Throughout this story the author weaves God's wondrous words and love along with lessons about trusting God while navigating through life and love.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This is my honest opinion.

With a spectacular backdrop of Niagara Falls, the most death defying act was soon to astound the audience. Oh my I was hooked as I read what Drew was about to do. Who in their right mind would walk across Niagara Falls on a flimsy pole? I can hear Drew’s heart as the first step was taken. The author draws readers in with the heartpounding adventure of a man who is willing to risk his life . Drew isn’t out to be famous, but to help his sister who he adores. They are desperate for money and he is willing to walk on water for her. I loved Drew so much because he was a humble person who put others before himself.

Adele is a wonderful young lady who had it all; well until her family fell on hard times. The family name was once upon a time worth riches and they had outlandish places to live. That all changed when the family becomes almost penniless. I liked the journey Adele took to America. Her hopes were high as she sought after a husband who could save her family from ruins. What really caught my attention in the story was the faith that Drew had as he became a victim of a terrible accident. He never complained, but became more dependent on what God said. As his feelings become more clear towards Adele, she fights to keep hers under wraps.

The story is a reminder that God loves each of us and sees the beauty in us. Adele needed to trust that God would be with her and help her in her time of need. The scriptures used in the story were so beautiful to read. I love being reminded that if we wait upon the Lord, He will give us strength. Patience is a hard thing for many of us. We try to hurry things along when God is telling us to wait and trust Him. The author also touches on feeling like you are a failure in God’s eyes. One character will learn just how important they are to Him and be free from the guilt and shame they have carried for so long. This is one story that I savored every word and felt every emotion as the characters faced pain, disappointment and redemption.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk , and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31.

I received a copy of this book from the author . The review is my own opinion.

What a charming story! I have never read a story about someone who walks a tightrope over Niagara Falls. I felt both of the lead characters were realistic portrayals of people of that time. Both seemed to have the weight of the world on their shoulders as they felt responsible for their family members. There were enough twists in the plot to keep it moving.

Amanda Barratt is a new voice in Christian fiction and one that bears watching. This was a good story with a great spiritual message.

My Heart Belongs in Niagara Falls, New York: Adele’s Journey (2018) by Amanda Barratt is a fantastic, highly-engaging installment in the My Heart Belongs series published by Barbour Books. Reading the previous stories in this series is not necessary as this book is very much a stand-alone story. With a full-time job and a very precocious and busy five-year old, this story took me five days to read. If you are noting the longer period of time it took me to read this book, fear not! It took me a while to read because it was finals week this week at school and I needed to grade like crazy. Please do not let my longer reading time deter you from this book. This book is AH-MAY-ZING!!! I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give this novel 5+++ STARS. This story is a Christian Historical Romance.

I had a tremendously arduous week this week with finals and needy students, so I had very limited reading time which was really disappointing because this book is so good I did not want to ever put it down. It’s easily one of those stories where you say to yourself, “One more chapter, I can do one more chapter!”

The main characters are Adele and Drew. Life for Adele and Drew is very difficult. Adele has struggled for the past four years to keep her family estate in England going after the reckless death of her father. Instead of having any help from her brother, a man more interested in spending money he doesn’t have on cards and alcohol, she is left to figure out how to manage her mother, home, and family finances alone. Almost destitute, Adele decides to leave England for America. She tells everyone it’s to visit estranged family, but in actuality, Adele has a plan — to catch a wealthy American husband. Once in New York, during a visit to the majestic Niagara Falls, Adele meets Drew Dawson. Drew and his sister, Hope, have been orphans as long as he can remember. Growing up in an orphanage, Drew single-handedly raised and protected Hope. Due to an accident that has left her unable to walk, Hope is an invalid and totally reliant on Drew. Drew’s goal in life is to work as hard as he legally can to make enough money so Hope can find a good doctor who will help her walk again. Well-paying jobs are hard to come by, so Drew utilizes his talents as a funambulist to help secure larger sums of money in order to grow his “Hope Savings.”

Two things stood out in this book for me. First, the tension. Oh my good gracious does this book have tension. Part of the reason why I had a difficult time putting this book down is because as every page passed, I could not figure out how Adele and Drew would get to their happily ever after. To call this book a page-turner would be an understatement! Tension because of circumstances. Tension because of mistakes the characters make. Tension between Drew and Adele. Tension between Adele and her American family. Tension between Drew and Franklin (the villain!). Tension between Adele and her brother. There are so many layers of tension going on in this story that at one point (around the 94%-read mark), I looked at my husband and declared, “I have no idea how this book is going to end!!!” It was FANTASTIC!!!

The second aspect to this book that really struck me was the intense and powerful message to place our trust in God. Drew is strong in his faith, even when the going gets really rough. But Adele has very little faith in God. The men in her life who were supposed to love and protect her let her down badly. Naturally, she has transferred her distrust of men to God. Adele wants to fix everything on her own. She cannot trust that anyone will come to her aid. So she constantly comes up with plans, but her plans never work out. I can relate to Adele so much. I, too, have had a very difficult time with trust. I, too, want to fix everything. But, my plans are rarely successful if I don’t include God. I appreciate Adele’s spiritual struggles because it made her all the more real a character. She endeared herself to me, and when she came to a full understanding of God and His love for her, I almost burst into happy, happy tears!

I truly loved this story, and I am a little sad that my time with Drew and Adele has come to an end. I am so blessed to have read this wonderfully engaging story, and I cannot recommend it enough. I highly suggest purchasing this book. You will not be disappointed with this read!